We want to throw a fabulous, free, family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration in downtown Milwaukie, and we need your help!

Bing in the New Year is an outdoor event with music, live entertainment, vendors and kids activities that culminates with a 9 p.m. (East Coast midnight) "cherry drop" lowering by crane of a 7-foot lighted Bing cherry. The Milwaukie Arts Committee organizes the event, and we are fundraising so we can "Bing in" 2025.

All money from this fundraiser will go toward rentals of tents, toilets, a stage and a crane, plus entertainment during the event. We are hoping the community can help us make this an annual Milwaukie tradition!

This celebration is in honor of Ah Bing, who cultivated the Bing cherry in Milwaukie circa 1875. Bing was an early Chinese immigrant to Oregon and a foreman on Seth Lewelling's farm, located in what is today downtown Milwaukie. Our giant cherry is lowered a block away from what is believed to be the site of the original Bing cherry tree!